Capital Region options for acquiring bargain-priced books

Many readers these days choose to devour their summer reads by swiping on a screen. But while e-readers are becoming more popular. some readers still prefer ink and paper.

According to a 2014 Pew Research Center poll, even though 50 percent of Americans now have a dedicated handheld device for reading e-content, print still remains the dominant way to read books. More than two-thirds of those polled said they had read at least one printed book over a 12-month period, versus 28 percent who said they’d read an e-book and 14 percent who opted for audio. Just 4 percent of those surveyed in a companion Pew poll said they were “e-book only.”

I’m an admitted spendthrift and suffer sticker shock when I see the price of some books, electronic or paper. I wrote about ways to flesh out an e-book library for less last summer (see it at http://bit.ly/1UIK9kI). Now I aim to help real-deal page turners with a penchant for penny-pinching.

There are a number of ways to amass a tangible collection of books without breaking the bank. Of course, you’ve got libraries, located in nearly every city and town and brimming with titles from every genre. But, those bastions of free books aside, there are plenty of places — both online and here in the Capital Region — that bibliophiles can go to grow their shelf-lining library for little — if any — money out of pocket.

Locally

Little Free Library:Little Free Libraries, found in several locales in the Capital Region (and nationwide), invite bibliophiles to “take a book, return a book” for free. Book lovers-turned-stewards erect, stock and register their itty-bitty library boxes with LittleFreeLibrary.com, a nonprofit organization founded in 2009. There are three located in Troy and another trio in Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood, and several more in Schenectady, Colonie and beyond. Visit http://littlefreelibrary.org for information and locations.

Saratoga Book Warehouse: Bright yellow signs touting “$1 books” dot area roadways leading to the three-room space tucked behind Weibel Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Visitors will find thousands of used books to peruse — paperback and hardcover — priced for just $1. The store is open from 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 450-1122 or http://facebook.com/saratogabookwarehouse.

Book sales

Churches, schools and many other organizations host sales throughout the year, most selling new and gently used books for a fraction of the original cost. To see what sales are sprouting up near you, check out http://www.booksalefinder.com. Created by a Massachusetts couple, the online guide lists more than 6,000 sales taking place over the coming months here and across the country. You can browse sales by month, date or location and pinpoint ongoing sales and nonprofit bookstores.

Library bookstores

Whitney Book Corner: Staffed by Friends of Schenectady County Public Library and stocked with donated items. The prices are low — 50 cents to $2 for most adult and children’s books. The store is open daily. Between 4 and 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month all books are half-price. Twice a year the Friends host a huge book sale on the library grounds. All proceeds benefit the library system. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday; 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday. 377-4670 or http://whitneybookcorner.org.

The Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library‘s Book Shop: Features thousands of books, DVDs, CDs and more. Most items are donated by patrons. The shop is open daily, but there are also special events — 10 percent paperback and half-price sales — throughout the year. Proceeds support the library and its programs. Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; 1-4 p.m. Sunday. 584-7860, Ext. 333 or http://friends.sspl.org/friends-book-shop.

The Book Seller: Sponsored by the Friends of Troy Public Library and located at the central branch, 200 Second St., Troy, the shop is open from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays (10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the summer). They offer gently used books priced between 25 and 50 cents. Donations are always accepted. http://www.thetroylibrary.org.

Online

Thriftbooks: Founded in 2003 and dubbed “the nation’s largest bookstore,” the site features more than seven million used books for sale, from baby board books to literary classics. There are currently 135 editions of Jane Austen‘s “Pride and Prejudice” available starting at $3.59. Orders totaling $10 or less ship for 99 cents. Spend $10 or more and shipping is free. http://www.thriftbooks.com.

AbeBooks: The website features millions of new, used, rare and out-of-print books from booksellers around the globe, some priced as low as a dollar. Select sellers offer free shipping, but not all. At quick glance, most softcover titles from popular authors, including J.K. Rowling, Stephen King and Laura Hillenbrand, were priced around $6. http://www.abebooks.com.

BooksFree: Similar to Netflix, you can join the book rental service and have paperbacks shipped to your door for free. There are some 250,000 titles to choose from with limited plans — two books per month — starting at $4.49. There are no due dates or late fees and a postage-paid return mailer is provided. http://www.booksfree.com.

BookMooch: Not a store, but an exchange, the site lets you give away books you no longer need for books you really want. Once you create a free account, type in the title of a book you want to give away. Once you receive a request for the book, mail it and receive a point. You can then ask for books from others with your points. The only cost is shipping. http://bookmooch.com.

Barnes and Noble: The nation’s largest brick-and-mortar book seller has a “Bargain Books” online store where you can buy new books at a significant discount. Again with Jane Austen, you can get four of her classics bound in one hardcover book for $4.99. Shipping is free when you spend $25 or more. http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Amazon: This will likely come as no surprise, but the gargantuan online store has a gazillion titles available to purchase, including many used books from third-party sellers sold for several dollars less than their newer counterparts. You can even sell your used books to Amazon and be paid by gift card. http://www.amazon.com.